NPY mediates the feeding elicited by muscimol injections into the nucleus accumbens shell

Injections of muscimol into the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) induce large increases in food intake in satiated rats and also activate neurons in a number of feeding-related brain regions, including NPY-containing neurons in the arcuate hypothalamic nucleus and cells in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus. This suggests that the NPY system may participate in the expression of AcbSh-mediated feeding behavior. Therefore, we examined the effects of intraventricular administration of the Y1 receptor antagonist 1229U91 or the Y5 receptor antagonist L-152,804 on AcbSh-mediated food intake. Intra-AcbSh muscimol elicited a large increase in food intake which was potently suppressed by blocking either central Y1 or Y5 receptors. Our results suggest that the AcbSh influences food intake, in part, through the release of NPY.